Daryle Lambert: Big Boys’ and Girls’ Toys

Now that it looks as if most people are going to be spending more time at home, what does that do for the Antique and Fine Art business? I am reading that the buying of collectibles will suffer because the economy has tanked but don't you believe it. In fact, I think that it might even be enhanced because when we stay home there isn't anything better than playing with our toys. What do I mean by that?

Let’s take me for example. It is true that I am getting out somewhat less than I did a year ago, but guess what? My time spent at home is involved in my collections and the business of Antiques and Fine Art. I now have the time to study my art collection to see if I have the combination of art works that I desire. Yes, I have sold a few pieces but I’ve also purchased several and I don't think that I am much different from most collectors. So, if this is true for me, why isn't it a great time to contact art collectors that I have done business with to see if I can assist them in upgrading their collections? If you have followed the ideas that I share in the “31 Steps to Your millions in Antiques and Collectibles” book, you will have listed all the contacts you have made over the years and now might be a great time to get in touch with them again. Believe me most of these people will be very glad to hear from you and getting up to date on your mutual interest will be enjoyable for both parties.

You can share with them what you are selling plus listen to what they might have to sell. Isn't this a great business? It gives you the opportunity to make money while you’re playing with your own toys. This should work with whatever your interests are. Time spent at home might include listening to music, so maybe the toys are records or radios, or if you collect coins, stamps or puzzles, the same approach can be taken. Have fun with your own things but also spend some of your time making money from them.

Now might be the time to profit from all that hard work that you have done in the past. The markets that may profit you the most during slow downs to the economy might be found with your old customers rather than new ones so take advantage of this by reacquainting yourself with past customers.

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Daryle Lambert: Shaker takes us back to another era.

Thanks to www.romawat.com


What do you think of when you hear the word Shaker? For me it is a simple way of life. The Shakers don't try to keep up with the Joneses but just try to enjoy the gifts that God has given them. They don't go in debt so they don’t worry about losing what they own. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Shakers make the most of what they own. They grow their own food, allowing them to sleep well at night not worrying about how to paid for what they need. Most people today have a very hard time understanding a group of individuals that are capable of providing for themselves. We have become almost totally dependent on others for our very survival and, in times such as we are living in today, that makes it hard to maintain our way of life. In good times or bad, however, the Shakers maintain a balanced lifestyle, while all the time giving thanks for what they have. Doesn't this all sound nice in this time of downturn in our economy?

There is humor in all of this. While the world wants all the fancy things that seem to become worthless, the simple items produced by the Shakers continue to escalate in value. In the Antique Trader on August 4, 2003 it was reported that a 6 ½ inch wooden box with its original yellow paint sold for $42,550. Guess what? If you ran across this piece at the next garage sale you attend, it might be priced at a couple of dollars. The exciting thing about finding Shaker items is that most people would just think of them as primitive items with very little value. In that same article on Shaker items, there was a basket from 1870 that was exhibited at the New York Whitney Museum that sold for $63,250. Now that is some basket!

When it comes to Shaker items most anything they produced is eagerly sought after by collectors. Would you think that seed box labels have much value? Probably not, but at $1000 a pop it sure would please me if I found a few dozen of them. Perhaps the items most recognized by people as being Shaker are the furniture pieces. All the pieces of furniture have a very simple design whether it be a bed, chair, table or chest and each piece is meant to be functional, not decorative. Here are some prices: beds $ 5000, chairs, $3500, chest $50,000 or more. I would say that must make the Shakers, living and dead, proud of their accomplishments.

Don't forget to look on Abebooks and Amazon for used issues of the prices guide on Shakers and their life style. Simple can be better.

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Daryle Lambert: Nothing Lasts Forever

Thanksto www.images.main.uba.edu

One of the things we enjoy about dealing in antiques, fine art and collectibles is that the quality names seem to stay with us regardless of market conditions. If you like finer things, how would you ever forget Meissen porcelain, Rookwood pottery, Tiffany glass or Rockwell paintings? These names are etched in our minds, but how about other companies we have grown up with that have always represented quality.

Here are just a few: Royal Doulton, Wedgwood and Waterford. Did you know that, because of changing times, these companies have all come together under the same company and that through the years, even though they have retained a certain amount of their original quality, most people would agree that it isn't the same quality as it was in the past.

The reason that I am bringing this to your attention is because the company that incorporates these names has just filed for bankruptcy. The company tried to find a suitable buyer but none was to be found. Quality is quickly disappearing from our society as we accept the throw away mentality of the world today. This is a general statement but I believe it to be true. However, there will always be that remnant of people that appreciate the finer things. These people will support the secondary markets that we deal in for antiques, fine art and collectibles. In fact, as more and more of the household names disappear from the retail marketplace, it will be better for us, as collectors try to recapture things they remember from their past. Because of the expense involved in producing quality items, I feel that the future is dim for the people that want to live as they did in the past. Paper and plastic plates and utensils are here to stay and the paper table cloth won't be replaced by a linen one any time soon. The new reality is that if it looks okay it is good enough.

You must be asking why then am I so encouraged? The reason is that fewer and fewer people will be able to recognize quality items, but we will, and this limits competition and will allow us to maximize our time in finding items to fill the requests we receive from the true collectors in the future. Also, as companies discontinue making products, the price on the secondary market for their older pieces will increase and that make us very happy.

Wedgwood, Doulton and Waterford may never be the same again but their items produced in the past can be our pathway to success.


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Daryle Lambert: Great European Pottery

Thanks to www.ceramic1900.com



I have written many blogs on great American art pottery but the world is also wide open for great European pottery. There have been two pottery companies that have drawn my attention through the years and I feel that there is a very large collector base for their wares. These two companies are Boch Frese and Longwy and they both can make you money.

The Boch Freres factories were founded in 1841 in La Louviere in eastern Belgium. They are still in business but the pieces that I would encourage you to search for are from the early 20th century. I personally have sold pieces that had an arts and crafts look for over $700 but that is at the low end for their better pieces. In November at the Holiday Sale held by Cincinnati Art Gallery, there was a vase with highly stylized flowers in three colors with an estimate of $8,000 and I have seen Boch pieces have even higher values. This vase had an ink stamp “Boch Freres La Louviere” which can be seen in the Kovel book of marks. There were many other pieces in this sale that had prices ranging from $400 to $4,000. What makes these pieces so collectible are the brillant colors and art deco designs.

I said there were two companies to watch for and the other one is Longwy from France. Their factories even post date Boch Freres and commenced production around 1798. They also, like Boch, are still in business but the pieces you wish to find are from same period as the Boch pieces. In fact, they are very similar in their use of color and design. If you see a vase made by Longwy, you will recognize it. One of the differences in the two companies is that Longwy used more animals in their design of the wares than Boch did. I once sold a large vase by Longwy with the most beautiful greens,yellows and blues in the design plus many water birds filling the pattern. It was breath taking.

I would suggest that you familiarize yourself with these two companies by searching the internet and any book on pottery that you might find. Since these companies aren't well known, you may stumble upon a very special piece reasonably priced. The great thing about these companies is that their better pieces are collected around the world.


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Daryle Lambert: What's in a Name?

Thanks to www.bissellbedardgalleries.com



I am learning right along with my readers every day and this should prove it. Did you know that the name on an item can show the viewer that it is quality? Just a few names that are quickly recognizable: Tiffany, Lalique, Steuben, Rookwood, Grueby, and Newcomb will quicken your attention. How about Puiforcat? Does that name get your attention? I know it register with me until I received an email asking if I would be interested in buying a set of candelabras by Puiforcat. With a little research, it soon became apparent to me that this is a name that I want to include in my memory for future reference.

The Puiforcat Company of France was founded early in the history of several great silver companies but the one name that has caught everyone's attention is Jean Puiforcat. In the late 19th century to early 20th century, he introduced the public to his art deco designs and the rest is simply history. Mr. Puiforcat died in 1945 but his wares are much in demand today. The Puiforcat Company was acquired by the world-famous Hermes Company that still exists today.

Don't look for cheap silver pieces made by the Puiforcat Co. Many will not recognize the name and you may find that these treasures are waiting for someone like you to discover them and “Puiforcat” appears on silver, you can be sure it is a treasure. Sets of hollowware may bring $100,000 or more depending on the design and number of place settings. It isn't unusual for one place setting to command a price of $5,000 or more for art deco patterns. Candelabras and other pieces carrying Jean Puiforcat designs will most certainly have a hefty price tag attached at better auctions or antique shops. Bargains, however may be found at house or garage sales.

I have been trying to research this company more fully but there seems to be a limited amount of information on the net so if any of our readers locate more on this company I would appreciate you passing it along. There seems to be unlimited articles about the wares but very little on the company itself. Puiforcat; a funny name that can bring you great rewards!

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Daryle Lambert: Antique Lamps can Light Up your World

Thanks to www.hrm.org for this beautiful Rookwood Lamp



Several years ago I learned a very valuable lesson and I would like to share it with you. When you are out hunting for treasure let your eyes tell you when what they are seeing should have further investigation. What do I mean by that? Let me share with you something that happened to me.

I was visiting one of my regular haunts, where I never know what I will find, when all of a sudden I spotted this very unusual lamp. It was a very large piece and the base looked to be Art Glass. Upon further inspection, to my surprise I saw that it was pottery and even signed. I am sure that you are already ahead of me, but yes, it was a large vase that had been drilled to make a lamp. Outside of some of my paintings, I believe this piece might be the most expensive item that I have in my collection. It is French and by a very well known artist. I approached the owner and asked the price and his answer was $300. Without hesitating I said “Sold, but with one condition”. He asked what that condition was and I said ”You will have to disassemble the vase from the lamp and then keep the lamp.” We both had a big laugh and he began to separate the vase from the lamp. I feel certain that the vase is worth several thousand dollars.

Another time I was at a house sale and spotted a beautiful lamp where the center piece was a scenic pottery vase. I thought that it might be a Rookwood piece but couldn't be sure until I asked if I could separate the vase from the lamp. Sure enough it was Rookwood and very under-priced, I thought. I had to return home to be sure of my opinion and, believe me, when I found a similar piece in my books, I rushed back to the sale holding my breath. I soon added it to my other purchases and this completed another profitable day where my bank account expanded by a few thousand dollars.

I am sure you’re asking “ So what should I do?” When you are in the field, be sure to eye every lamp that you see. These lamps can be glass--possibly Lalique or Waterford, pottery--Rookwood, Grueby, Newcomb, Cowan, Weller, Roseville or many others, porcelain—Doulton or Rosenthal or even metal--Roycroft, Kalo or others. Unless you examine these pieces it might not be apparent who made the lamp. You might have to disassemble the lamp (be sure to ask permission) but that could prove to be time well spent.

Lamps might just light up your life.


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Daryle Lambert: Antique pottery by Cowan

Psst! Here is a big secret that I want to share with you. Cowan pottery has joined the big league. Most people think of Cowan as pieces made for the florist trade but they forget about the hunger that is out in the public for Art Deco pieces made by Cowan. This company made perhaps the best of the Art Deco pottery pieces ever made between 1913 and 1931. Guy Cowan had a wonderful stable of craftsman that helped him produce the wonderful pottery that is coveted today.

Along with Guy Cowan, there were artists like Viktor Schreckengost, Wayande Gregory, and Tehelma Frazier Winter. Pieces made by any of these artists are eagerly sought after and you can be assured that if you find pieces by these artists, your rewards will be great. The stylized mark formed with the word Cowan in it can be found on most pieces and this mark can be found in Kovel's book of marks.

We aren't talking about a few bucks here but many thousands if the right piece comes your way. I was fortune enough to see the Cowan Jazz bowl sell for $121,000 at a Cincinnati Art Gallery sale. Now that could change your outlook on life. In Cincinnati, the word Cowan seems to ring that certain bell of success. Just last November they had several fabulous pieces of Cowan in their holiday sale and their estimates amazed me. Here are just a few examples:

The rare “ Congo Head by Gregory $4,500, set of Russian Peasants $4,500, Spanish Dancers $1,800 and the “King of Clubs $900 were just a few of the Cowan pieces in that sale. Another place to see the value of Cowan is the Kovel price guide where you will find the bust “La Reveuse “ listed at $11,000 and the figurine “Fountain of Atoms” at $7,920. There are too many pieces that sell for more than $2,000 to include each piece but you can look at the prices yourself.

If you see a piece that appears to be Deco it would be wise to pick it up and take a look, you may very well be holding a treasure. I feel that the value of the quality Cowan pieces have no where else to go but up so keep a keen eye out for them.


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